DWIGHT TWILLEY BAND – Twilley Don’t Mind – (Arista) – 1977

Check my other comments on Dwight Twilley and power pop.

Twilley is perhaps the most central figure in the power pop genre and perhaps one of the most influential fusing Beatles melodies and Elvis rock n roll.

He takes the best of both worlds – The Beatles in their 64-65 heyday and Elvis in his 56-57 blitzkrieg. Both were at their unpretentious, simple best, playing straight ahead rock n roll. Twilley likewise keeps things simple, or seemingly so.

The lyrics, as I have said before in relation to power pop music, rarely move away from relationships in all it’s stages. Twilley manages, though, to put enough complexity into the songs to give them a new twist. And, even when he is dealing with emotional turmoil the songs are, still, largely upbeat. Eddie Vedder could take lessons in writing from Twilley.
Best of all, and in true power pop fashion, he attaches the lyrics to a musical hook and then punches the songs out.

There is every bit as much exhilaration and the excitement of youth here as there is in punk. OK, it’s not angry but it does make you want to jump and sweat.

Power pop can be one of the easiest musical genres to play and write in. Played badly and without inspiration it is tiresome. Twilley knows this and really does extend himself to make sure that every song exists on it’s own. He mixes the songs up and why shouldn’t he. He is drawing from both Elvis and The Beatles (here, a little more) for inspiration.

Sometimes you just want to sit and listen to something which is simple and yet fun. There is a special joy in a music that is this exhilarating.

You want to strut.

And dance.

Twilley’s long time collaborator , Phil Seymour (vocals, drums, bass) is also on this album. I believe he split after this one)

Tracks (best in italics)

Here She Come – I nice unpretentious slab of melodic power pop that in some ways anticipates Cheap Trick.
Looking for the Magic – we know most power pop songs are about the various stages of love so the trick is to examine the emotion deeply (or as deeply as you can in two and half minutes) or to put in a hook so the song sticks in the mind. What starts out as a echo laden (a la Elvis) mid tempo power pop love song weaves it’s magic (sic) and becomes disarming. Tom Petty plays guest guitar on this one.
That I Remember – an interesting song though not up with the others.
Rock & Roll 47 – some slight glam psychedelica and even ELO styled bombast on this one. Still quite catchy and a perfect example of why the music was lumped in with the new wave.
Trying to Find My Baby – nice vocals make for a interesting tune.
Twilley Don’t Mind – well he should. To my ears one of the weaker tracks despite the name drop and the lead song off the album. More of a straight 70s song.
Sleeping – a excellent little 60s psychedelic ballad. Beautiful pop.
Chance to Get Away – a lot of wonderful jangle and this one. A familiar sound in power pop type numbers though Twilley doesn’t utilise it that often. I’m sure this song was ripped off my countless indie Australian bands in the 80s.
Invasion – hmmm, slight. A pity. Still. it’s better similar songs by others.